The 6 Best Multitools of 2026
A good multitool replaces a drawer of loose tools with one thing you actually carry. These picks run from a 2.2-ounce keychain tool to a heavy-duty pliers tool for job sites. We weighed tool selection, blade access and locks, steel, size and weight, carry options and warranty.
Our top picks at a glance
The picks fall into three sizes. The Leatherman Wave+ and Surge are full-size pliers tools for repairs, DIY and job sites; the Surge is bigger and heavier, with Leatherman's largest pliers and longest blades. The Skeletool CX and Gerber Suspension NXT trade some tools for a pocket clip and a lighter build, and the Gerber Dime is a keychain tool for small jobs. The Victorinox Huntsman is a classic Swiss Army knife with a saw and scissors but no pliers.
How we judged: we compared each tool's listed tools, steel, dimensions, weight, carry options and warranty from manufacturer specs and product information, then ranked them on how much useful work they cover for the size you carry. The Huntsman earns the highest score of the six as a pocket knife, but a multitool guide should lead with pliers, so the Wave+ takes the top spot.
#1 Best Overall
Leatherman Wave+ Multi-Tool
The Wave+ covers the most everyday jobs for its size. Its blades sit outside the handles, so you can open a knife without unfolding the pliers, and the tools lock open. Spring-action scissors, a saw, a ruler and replaceable wire cutters round out 18 tools in 420HC and 440C stainless steel. It suits homeowners, campers and anyone who reaches for pliers most days. The trade-off is 8.5 ounces with no pocket clip and no sheath in the box.
Pros
- Outside-accessible blades open without unfolding the pliers
- Blades and tools lock open for harder cutting jobs
- Replaceable wire cutters, so a worn edge doesn't retire the tool
- Made in Portland, Oregon, with a 25-year warranty
Cons
- 8.5 ounces is heavy for a light pants pocket
- Sheath sold separately, and there's no pocket clip
- A full-size frame is overkill if you mostly need a blade
| Tools | 18 |
|---|---|
| Closed length | 4 in (4 x 1.5 x 0.8 in) |
| Weight | 8.5 oz |
| Steel | 420HC and 440C stainless |
| Warranty | 25 years |
#2 Best Swiss Army Knife
Victorinox Huntsman Swiss Army Knife
The Huntsman earns the highest score in this guide, and it's the pick if you want a pocket knife first. Victorinox adds a wood saw and scissors to its Officer's knife toolset for 15 functions, including two blades, a multipurpose hook, can and bottle openers and a reamer, all in a 3.6-inch, 3.4-ounce body. It ranks second only because it has no pliers. No blade lock is listed either, so treat it as a slip-joint knife rather than a heavy cutter.
Pros
- Wood saw and scissors cover jobs a plain pocket knife can't
- 15 functions in a 3.6-inch, 3.4-ounce body
- Two blades, so the small one can take the messy jobs
- Swiss made, with a lifetime warranty
Cons
- No pliers for gripping or bending, which limits repair work
- No blade lock is listed, so treat it as a slip-joint folder
- 2.45-inch main blade is modest for heavy camp cutting
| Tools | 15 functions |
|---|---|
| Closed length | 3.6 in (91 mm) |
| Weight | 3.4 oz (97 g) |
| Steel | Stainless steel |
| Warranty | Lifetime |
→ Check today's price on the Victorinox Huntsman Swiss Army Knife
#3 Best Heavy-Duty
Leatherman Surge Multi-Tool
The Surge is the pick for heavy work. Leatherman calls it one of its biggest multitools, with its largest pliers and longest blades, and aims it at electricians, mechanics, plumbers and construction workers. You get 21 tools in 420HC and 440C stainless steel, plus a saw you can swap for a file when a job needs precision. The cost is size: it folds to 4.5 inches and weighs over 12 ounces, which makes it a belt or toolbox tool rather than a pocket one.
Pros
- Leatherman's largest pliers and longest blades
- Saw swaps out for a file for smoothing and fine trimming
- 21 tools in 420HC and 440C stainless steel
- Made in Portland, Oregon, with a 25-year warranty
Cons
- Over 12 ounces, too heavy for most pockets
- Ships as the tool only, so add a sheath for belt carry
- More tool than most household jobs need
| Tools | 21 |
|---|---|
| Closed length | 4.5 in |
| Weight | 12.5–12.8 oz (sources vary) |
| Steel | 420HC and 440C stainless |
| Warranty | 25 years |
#4 Best Lightweight EDC
Leatherman Skeletool CX Multi-Tool
The Skeletool CX strips a multitool down to the essentials: a straight-edged blade, needlenose pliers, wire cutters, a bit driver and a bottle opener, plus a carabiner clip. Leatherman pitches it as a pocketknife with extra capabilities and a good first multitool. At about 5 ounces and 3.25 inches closed, with a removable pocket clip, it carries like a knife. You give up tool count: it has 7 tools against the Wave+'s 18, and no scissors or saw are listed.
Pros
- About 5 ounces, light enough for everyday pocket carry
- Removable pocket clip plus a carabiner clip
- Pliers, wire cutters and a bit driver cover quick fixes
- 420HC stainless steel and a 25-year warranty
Cons
- Only 7 tools, with no scissors or saw listed
- A small frame gives less grip and leverage than full-size pliers
| Tools | 7 |
|---|---|
| Closed length | 3.25 in |
| Weight | About 5 oz |
| Steel | 420HC stainless |
| Warranty | 25 years |
→ Check today's price on the Leatherman Skeletool CX Multi-Tool
#5 Best Budget
Gerber Suspension NXT Multi-Tool
The Suspension NXT is the budget way into a full pliers-based tool. Its 15 tools include needle nose pliers, a wire stripper, three flathead and two cross drivers, scissors, an awl, a file, can and bottle openers and a 2.25-inch partially serrated blade. Butterfly handles open the pliers, the outboard tools lock, and a pocket clip lets it ride deep in a pocket or on a belt. The trade-offs: Gerber lists the steel only as stainless, and no wire cutters are listed.
Pros
- 15 tools, including pliers, scissors and five drivers
- Outboard tools lock open
- Pocket clip and lanyard point for easy carry
- Budget-friendly next to the Leatherman picks
Cons
- Steel is listed only as stainless, with no grade given
- No wire cutters are listed, only a wire stripper
| Tools | 15 |
|---|---|
| Closed length | 4.25 in (6.5 in open) |
| Weight | 6.4–6.7 oz (sources vary) |
| Steel | Stainless steel |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime |
→ Check today's price on the Gerber Suspension NXT Multi-Tool
#6 Best Keychain
Gerber Dime Mini Multi-Tool
The Dime is the multitool that lives on your keys. At 2.2 ounces and 2.75 inches closed, it packs 12 tools: spring-loaded needle nose pliers, wire cutters, scissors, tweezers, a plain edge blade, a package opener, two flathead drivers, fine and coarse files and a bottle opener you can reach without opening the tool. It suits small jobs like cord, fishing line and packaging. Its size limits grip and leverage, so it backs up a full-size tool rather than replacing one.
Pros
- 2.2 ounces, small enough for a keychain
- Spring-loaded pliers, scissors and tweezers for fine work
- Bottle opener works with the tool closed
- Dedicated blade for cutting and scoring plastic packaging
Cons
- Small handles give little leverage for tough jobs
- Steel is listed only as stainless, with no grade given
| Tools | 12 |
|---|---|
| Closed length | 2.75 in (4.25 in overall) |
| Weight | 2.2 oz |
| Steel | Stainless steel |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime |
How to choose multitools
Decide whether you need pliers
Pliers are the line between a pocket knife with tools and a true multitool. If you grip, bend or cut wire, or work on cars, plumbing or fixtures, start with a pliers tool like the Leatherman Wave+, Surge or Gerber Suspension NXT. If most of your jobs are cutting cord, opening packages, snipping with scissors and turning the odd screw, a knife-based tool like the Victorinox Huntsman is slimmer and easier to carry every day. The Skeletool CX and Gerber Dime sit in between: they have pliers, but in a smaller frame with fewer tools.
Match the size to how you'll carry it
Weight decides whether a tool comes with you. The Gerber Dime weighs 2.2 ounces and rides on a keychain. The Huntsman (3.4 ounces) and Skeletool CX (about 5 ounces) disappear in a pocket, and the Skeletool CX and Suspension NXT both have pocket clips. The Wave+ at 8.5 ounces and the Surge at over 12 ounces are belt, bag or toolbox tools. Neither comes with a sheath, so plan on adding one if you want belt carry.
Look at blade access and locks
Outside-accessible blades, like those on the Wave+, open without unfolding the handles, which helps when your other hand is holding the work. Locking tools stay open under pressure, and both the Wave+ and the Suspension NXT list locking tools. The Huntsman lists no lock, so it works like a traditional slip-joint folder: fine for everyday cuts, but don't use the blade to pry or push hard against the spine.
Count the tools you'll actually use
More tools mean more weight. The Surge's 21 tools include a saw you can swap for a file, and the Wave+ adds spring-action scissors and a ruler. If you only need a blade, pliers, wire cutters, a driver and a bottle opener, the 7-tool Skeletool CX covers that at about 5 ounces. Read each tool list against your own jobs: a saw for branches, scissors for tape and zip ties, wire cutters for electrical work, or a bit driver for odd screw heads.
Check the steel and warranty
Leatherman lists 420HC and 440C stainless for the Wave+ and Surge and 420HC for the Skeletool CX, and backs all three with a 25-year warranty from its Portland, Oregon factory. In broad terms, 420HC is tough and easy to sharpen, while 440C is harder and holds an edge longer. Victorinox gives the Swiss-made Huntsman a lifetime warranty against defects. Gerber lists stainless steel without a grade for the Suspension NXT and Dime and covers both with a limited lifetime warranty.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best multitool for most people?
The Leatherman Wave+. It pairs outside-accessible locking blades with pliers, replaceable wire cutters, spring-action scissors and a saw across 18 tools, and Leatherman backs it with a 25-year warranty. If 8.5 ounces is too much to carry, the Skeletool CX keeps the pliers, blade and bit driver at about 5 ounces.
Is a Swiss Army knife a multitool?
In a broad sense, yes. The Victorinox Huntsman has 15 functions, including a wood saw, scissors, two screwdrivers, a reamer and can and bottle openers. What it lacks is pliers, which most multitools are built around, so it suits cutting and light fixes better than repair work.
Which multitool is best for everyday carry?
The Leatherman Skeletool CX. It weighs about 5 ounces, measures 3.25 inches closed and has a removable pocket clip, yet still brings pliers, wire cutters, a bit driver and a blade. If you want something even smaller, the 2.2-ounce Gerber Dime fits on a keychain.
Do these multitools come with a sheath?
Not the Leatherman picks. The Wave+ sheath is sold separately, the Surge ships as the tool only, and the Skeletool CX relies on its removable pocket clip. The Gerber Suspension NXT has a pocket clip and a lanyard point, and the Dime fits on a keychain or lanyard ring.
How do you keep a multitool working smoothly?
Wipe off dirt and moisture after use and dry the tool before you fold it away. For the Huntsman, Victorinox suggests opening and closing the tools in warm water if they start to stick, letting the knife dry and adding a drop of oil between each tool and its spring. Keep any multitool out of the dishwasher.
Leatherman or Gerber: which should you choose?
In this guide, the Leatherman picks name their steels (420HC, plus 440C on the Wave+ and Surge) and carry a 25-year warranty. The Gerber picks list stainless steel without a grade, come with a limited lifetime warranty and sit at the budget end. For the most capable tool, pick a Leatherman. For pliers, a clip and 15 tools for less, the Suspension NXT is the value choice.
The bottom line
#1 Best Overall
Leatherman Wave+ Multi-Tool
If you only look at one option from this guide, make it the Leatherman Wave+ Multi-Tool. Prices and stock change often, so check the current price before you buy.
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